Automatic gravity boiler-feeder.



No. 658,728. Patented Sept. 25, I900.

H. c. NEE-DHAM.

AUTOMATIC GRAVITY BOILER FEEDERv 7 (Application filed Apr. 4, 1898.) (No Model) Tigz wakev \'me,.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. NEEDHAM, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GRAVITY BOILER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICAT'iON forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,728, dated September 25, 1900.

Application filed April 4:; 1898. Serial No. 676,462. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY CLAY NEEDHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Gravity Boiler-Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

The object of .my invention is to provide improved means to do away with the use of a pump or inspirator for feeding water to boilers and to feed the water automatically by gravity-pressure, taking the water directly from a reservoir or from a Water-main and causing the water to flow into the boiler automatically by the force of gravity.'

In the operation of my invention steam from the boiler is applied inside the feed-reservoir to equalize the pressure in thereservoir and boiler, so as to allow the feed-water to flow freely from the feed-reservoir into the boiler, and I provide a supply-reservoir which is steam-tight and is connected with the feedreservoir by a valved pipe to introduce the steam into the steam-supply reservoir from the feed-reservoir to equalize the steam-pressure between the supply-reservoir and feedreservoir, and thus to allow water to flow from the supply-reservoir into the feed-reservoir through the valved pipe provided for that purpose.

An object attained by my invention is to avoid any discharge of steam into the open air from the boiler-feeding apparatus.

My invention comprises the various features, parts, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical mid-section of .my newly-invented combined automatic gravity boiler-feeder applied to a boiler, fragments of which are shown. The pipes and valve mechanisms are shown intact. Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-section of the steam-shifting valve for the steam-supply pressure-pipe on line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the same on line 3 3. V

My newly-invented apparatus comprises, in combination with the boiler A, a steamtight feed-reservoir B, extending above the water-line of the boiler; a feed-pipe b, leading from the feed-reservoir to the boiler and provided with a check-valve b to admit water to the boiler and prevent backflow; a steampipe 5, leading from the boiler to the feedreservoir; a steam-tight supply-reservoir 0,

above the level of the feed-reservoir; a supply-pipe 0, leading from the supply-reservoir to the feed-reservoir and provided with a check-valve c to admit water by gravity from the supply-reservoir into the feed-reservoir and to prevent backflow; a supply-pressure steam-pipe a, leading from the feed-reservoir into the supply-reservoir; a float-valve 5 to be operated by the water in the feed-reservoir and arranged to open and close the supplypressure steam-pipe, and means for introducing water into the supply reservoir when there is no steam-pressure therein. The feedwater pipe I) is also provided with a globevalve 1 between the check-valve b and the boiler. The supply-pipe c is providedwith a globe-valve 2 between the check-valve c and the feed-reservoir. The supply-pressure steam-pipe c is provided with a globe-valve 3, and the steam-pipe b is provided with a globe-valve 4:- These valves are necessary in starting the apparatus into operation to antomatically feed the boiler; but after the automatic feeding apparatus has been put into operation the several globe-valves are not necessary to the continued operation; but the globe-valve 1 should be set to allow a flow of water into the boiler only slightly greater than sufficient to supply the evaporation.

The pipe (1 may be connected directly with the source of supply, as indicated by the pipe d. 9 indicates a globe-valve for shut-ting off the said pipe d, and 10 indicates a globevalve for closing the connection (1? between a settling-tank (not shown) and the pipes at and d. 7 indicates a globe-valve in the pipe d between the check-valve d and the pipe 01 The purpose of these globe-valves, except hereinafter explained, is simply to out off the respective pipes forrepairs and other stoppages.

The fioat-valve5 is especially constructed for the purpose of allowing the same to be readily operated against considerable steampressure by the lowering of the water-level in the feed-reservoir to open the supply-pressure steam-pipe c, which is a steam-outlet pipe, to allow the steam to flowout of the feed-reservoir when the valve 5 is open.

a is an externally and internally threaded collar screwed onto the end of the outletpipe 0'.

o is a valve-seat screwed into the collar.

0 is a guide fixed to the upper end of the valve-seat and extending thereacross.

c is an annular valve seated in the valveseat.

5 is a vent-valve for closing the central;

opening of the annular valve and provided with a stem 5, extending through the guide 0 and provided with stops 5 5 to engage the annular valve to move the same from'and toward the valve-seat, said vent-valve being arranged to provide a vent through the annular valve when the vent-valve is drawn away from the annular valve. For'this-purpose the vent-valve is preferably provided with a small steam-passage 52, having its discharge-outlet above the annular valve 0 and having its mouth or inlet 53 at such a point that it will be closed by the annular valve when the vent-valve is seated against the annular valve.

0 indicates a cap screwed onto the collar c and provided with steam-inlet c 'to admit steam to the valves and arranged to form a stop, as at 0 to limit the movement of the annular valve.

Suitable means are provided for moving the vent-valve to operate the annular valve. The means which I have shown comprise a bifurcated float-lever 5-l, pivoted to a support 55, depending from and forming apart of the cap 0.

56 indicates the pivot of'the float-lever.

57 indicates a slot in the lever 54, and 5 indicates a pin carried by the vent-valve 5 and working in the slot 57.

58 indicates an adjusting-screw in the lever 54 and extending against the lower end of the vent-valve 5, so that the play of the lever 5-l with relation to the pin 5"can be regulated.

I will now describe the operation of myinvention.

Starting with an empty boiler, the globevalves 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10 will all be opened and the water allowed to flow into the boiler until the boiler is full to the water-line. The water flows through the supply-reservoir and the feed-reservoir and thence into the bottom of the boiler by-gravity. When the water in the boiler has reached the water-line, the globe-valves 2 and 3 will be closed and steam will be raised until the steam-pressure exceeds the pressure of the water through the pipe 0. Then the globe-valves 2 and 3 are opened and the Water'fiows through pipe 0 into the feed-reservoir B until it causes the float-valve 5 'to close. The steam-pressure in feed-reservoir B then sets the check-valve c, and so long as the steam-pressure in the feed-reservoir is not relieved the water is prevented from flowing from the supply-reservoir'C into the feed-reservoir B. When the water in the feed-reservoir is above the water-line of the boiler, the float-valve 5 holds boiler,andthe water will slowly seek its level in filling the boiler as desired. The pressure of steam on the water in the feed-reservoir counterbalances that 'on the water -in the boiler, so that the water is free to flow from the feed-reservoir to the boiler by gravity as though in the open air. When the level of the water in the feed-reservoir falls to the water=line of the boiler,'the valve-lever 54 has fallen suificientl-y to-pull down upon the pin 5", thus pulling down 'upon the ventvalve 5 and'slightlywithdrawing it from its seat inthe annular valve 0 and immediately this has been accomplished'the steam rushes into'the small "vent-opening 53, thus admitting steam intothe pipe 0, and thus allowing'the Weight of the lever 54 and its float and the weight of the-vent-valve 5 and the annular valve 0'' to all operate to draw the valvec from its seat and allow'the-steam to flow'unobstructed into the pipe 0 and into the supply-reservoir C,'th us applying'tothe top of the water in the supply-reservoir a pressure corresponding to the pressure'in the boiler. This 'sets the check valve d and equalizes the pressure on both sidesof the check-valve o and allows thewater from the supply-reservoir to open the check-valve c and flow-freelyfinto the feed-reservoir until the level of the water in the feed-reservoir has been raised sufliciently to again cause thefloat valve to close, thu's'shuttingoif the steam-pressure from the supply-reservoir 0, thus again setting the check-valve o and allowing the check-valve dto again open 'to fill the supply-reservoir.

By preference the supply-pipe c is a twoinch pipe, 50 that 'the feed-reservoir will qnickl-yfill; but it will be understood'that throughout'the operation above described the flow of water into the-boiler throughthepipe b willbe uninterrupted provided the level of the water in the boiler is below that of the water in the feed-reservoir.

The feed-reservoir is preferably provided with 'a-water-glass F somewhat longer than thewater-glass F of the boiler for the reason thatthe'variation of the'water-level inthe feed-reservoir is preferably greater than that for the boiler.

By means of the arrangement which I have shown for'the valve 5 the several parts can be very conveniently assembled and the valve cheaply and easily constructed. The opening for'the vent-valve in the 'ann ularvalve is preferably about one-quarter of an inch, and the vent-opening through the valve about onesixteenth of an inch, *more or less, and *the stem of the valve preferably fits the opening ICO IIO

eas /2s 3 vent-passage 52 to apply the steam-pressure to the upper side of the annular'valve, and the stop 5 is arranged to be brought down against the top of the annular valve, thus to add its weight and the weight of the float and lever to force the annular valve from its seat.

In setting the device the adjusting-screw 58 will be set at such a point as to allow only that play of the lever which is desirable wi-thout operating the valve.

After the apparatus has once been set into operation it will continue to operate so long as the steam-pressure remains up. When the boiler is allowed to cool, it is to be understood that the globe valves must be closed, and when it is again desired to raise steam'the operation of starting the apparatus into use, as hereinbefore described, must be repeated.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a boiler,of a steamtight feed-reservoir extending above the Water-level of the boiler; a feed-water pipe leading from said reservoir into the boiler and provided with a check-Valve to admit water into the boiler and prevent backfiow; a steampipe leading from the boiler to the feed-reservoir; a steam-tight supply-reservoir above the feed-reservoir; asupply-pipe leading from the supply-reservoir to the feed-reservoir and provided with a check-valve to admit water by gravity from the supply-reservoir into the feed-reservoir and to prevent backfiow; the

supply-pressure steam-pipe leading from the feed-reservoir into the supplyreservoir; a float-valve to be operated by the water in the feed-reservoir and arranged to open and close the supply-pressure steam-pipe; and valved means for introducing water into the supplyreservoir when there is no steam-pressure therein.

2. A gravity boiler feeder comprising a steam-tight feed-reservoirextending above the water-level of the boiler; a feed-pipe leading from the feed-reservoir to the boiler and provided with a check-valve to admit water to the boiler and prevent backflow and also provided with a globe valve between the check-valve and the boiler; a steam-pipe leading from the boiler to the feed-reservoir and provided with a globe-valve; a steam-tight supply-reservoir above the feed-reservoir; a supply-pipe leading from the supply-reservoir to the feed-reservoir and provided with a check-valve to admit water by gravity from the supply-reservoir into the feed-reservoir and to prevent backflow and said pipe also being provided with a globe-valve between the feed reservoir and said check-valve; a supply steam-pipe leading from the feed-reservoir into the supply-reservoir and provided with a globe-valve; a float-valve to be operated by the water in the feed-reservoir and arranged to open and close the supply-pressure steampipe; and a water-supply pipe with a checkvalve to admit water into the supply-reser voir when there is no steam-pressure therein, and to close against the steam-pressure when steam is admitted to the supply-reservoir.

3. The combination of an outlet-pipe; a collar screwed onto the end of the pipe; a valve seat screwed into the collar; a guide clamped between the valve-seat and the end of the pipe and extending across the pipe; an annular valve seated in the valve-seat; a vent valve for closing the central opening of the annular valve and provided with a stem extending through the guide and provided with stops to engage the annular valve to move the same, said vent-valve being arranged to provide a vent through the annular valve when the vent-valve is drawn away from the annular valve; a cap screwed onto the collar and provided with steam-inlet to admit steam to the valves and arranged to form a stop to limit the movement of the annular valve; and

means for moving the vent-valve to operate the annular valve.

4. The combination of a pipe; a collar screwed onto the end of the pipe; a valve-seat screwed into the collar; an annular valve seated in the valve-seat; a vent-valve to close the opening in the annular valve and provided with stops to limit its movement with relation to the annular valve; a cap screwed onto the collar and provided with inlet admittin g to the valve; and a float-lever pivoted to asupport and to the vent-valve for operating said valves.

H. O. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, ALFRED I. TOWNSEND. 

